We’re not blessed with the best weather in the UK – a constant reminder we live on an island surrounded on all sides by water.

But despite this, we are certainly not the most water-focussed of countries. In many other territories, water is a much more integral part of people’s day-to-day lives. Some even live on the stuff!

Of course when it comes to a city on water, Venice will immediately spring to most people’s minds – especially the romantic image of gondolas and their accompanying gondoliers.

If you thought Britain was tightly packed for an island, wait until you see Santa Cruz del Islote in Columbia. A tiny 0.46 square miles, it has a population of 1,200 and is (unofficially) the world’s most crowded island.

Viewers of Top Gear may find the next water-based dwelling familiar, as the show included an area of Halong Bay in its Vietnam special. As its name suggests, Halong Bay floating village is a village (or, more accurately, a collection of villages) which float on the water. Almost 1,000 residents are said to reside there.

Naarden in the Netherlands is a captivating water-based dwelling, especially when viewed from above where it looks like a star or snowflake. The star fort is completely fortified and includes a moat. It was officially made a city back in 1300.

Then of course there is the city of Atlantis. Whilst many doubt its existence, the legendary philosopher Plato did write of an highly advanced society, and news stories have often emerged of people ‘discovering’ what they believe to be the fabled lost city.

With much of the Earth’s surface being covered by water, it should come as no real surprise that many cities have not only been built around, or near water, but on the water too.

What’s more, with space becoming a premium on land, some ingenious ideas have come to the surface.

For example in Seoul, South Korea,  a number of man-made floating islands have been created to make the most of the water, with the islands featuring indoor space for festivals and exhibitions, terraces and other entertainment.

• Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

A new year usually means a renewed vigour to hit the gym or generally get into shape.  Resolutions are made, gym memberships signed, and various exercise apparel are purchased – all in the name of creating a ‘new you’.

If you want to continue that trend for longer than a month however, you will need more than the right attitude and a gym membership. You’ll also need a simple secret weapon… water.

Water is crucial to any workout routine. Don’t buy into all the marketing from the energy drink providers, which shows athletes powering up like a videogame character after a swig of TurboAid Cola Blue (or some other such energy drink with a name positively dripping with hyperbole).

Let’s face it, unless you’re looking to do a really intensive workout akin to a sports person, you will find water far more effective for your workouts.

If your new exercise routine revolves around cycling to work, you will often find your bike will come with a water bottle holder.

If not, you’ll easily be able to find one from a sports or cycling store. All you need to do then is make sure you top up the bottle of water before you leave to work, and top it up again at the water cooler at work before you head off back home.

Many people will take to hitting the swimming pool rather than the gym. The important thing to remember if you’re an avid swimmer is that just because you’ve immersed yourself in water, you will still need to bring plenty of H₂O too!

Instead of a sports drink, simply opt for a bottle of cool and clear water. A simple pinch of sugar and salt will have you sorted, creating a drink that’ll help rebalance your electrolytes and other vital components required for a healthy workout. You’ll soon be well on your way to the ‘new’ you.

• Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

As we settle into a new year, here are 14 fascinating water-based facts to whet your intrigue.

1. Whilst many will know a human body is typically 60% water, did you know that, at birth, water accounts for a staggering 80% of an infant’s body weight?

2. On a similar note, human blood is actually 83% water.

3. Much like humans, the planet’s surface is predominantly water. Somewhere between 70% and 75% of the surface of the earth is covered with the wet stuff.

4. Despite this, only about one per cent of the Earth’s water can be used directly by humans.

5. Statistics suggest the average UK person uses 150 litres of water each day. The biggest water drainer? Flushing the toilet!

6. Whilst the average human can survive up to a month without food, they would only live about a week without a supply of water.

7. Interestingly, too much water can also be dangerous as too little water. This is because it can lead to water intoxication – this dilutes the level of sodium in the bloodstream and also imbalances water in the brain. Not good!

8. Water in its purest form of hydrogen and oxygen is PH neutral, that is to say it is neither acidic nor alkaline.

9. However, water can actually dissolve more substances than sulphuric acid, making it the most potent liquid in that sense.

10. Obviously, our skin isn’t vulnerable to dissolving in water (thankfully!). In fact, water can actually make your skin look fresh as it naturally moisturises it to give it a healthy-looking glow.

11. Water can also help maintain energy levels. Often when we feel hungry, we’re actually feeling the effects of a lack of water. Dehydration is a big cause of daytime fatigue.

12. A massive 1.5 billion people across the globe do not have access to safe, clean water.

13. Having a quick shower will use less than two-fifths of the water required for a bath.

14. Water regulates the Earth’s temperature.

• Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

Many of us take water for granted. After all, it’s such a big part of our everyday lives, that it almost becomes ‘part of the furniture’.

For many others across the world, however, it is a vital part of their culture or celebrations.

Here we take a little time to explore the significance of water in certain cultures:

Songkran

In Thailand, Songkran is a celebration of New Year’s Day. Unlike our celebrations of the New Year which typically involve drinking and merriment out on the town, the Songkran festival is akin to one giant water fight.

Having said that, don’t think that because you’re in Thailand for the New Year you can throw water over everyone. First of all, we’re not talking the Western New Year, but more a traditional lunar celebration that is now set to April 13^th-15^th each year.

Here’s a little Thai language lesson to help you. To pass on your well wishings for the New Year, simply add ‘pi mai’ to the greeting ‘sawatdi’. In this way you change ‘hello’ to ‘happy New Year’.

This may also use a different expression:  ‘suk san wan songkran’. But when they’re throwing water at you unexpectedly, they’ll probably be happy to hear you say any kind of nice greeting!

The rain dance

The common image associated with rain dances is a Native American chanting in his native tongue in order to bring rain during times of drought. Invariably, this image is a sepia-tinted look back at the past.

But in reality, rain dances are still a common occurrence today. In England we certainly don’t need a rain dance to bring the rain, but in other countries it can be used in a ritualistic way to encourage rain to help growing crops.

World Water Day

Each year this event is held so people can truly appreciate the struggles many people face without access to clean water. While this is not part of any particular culture as such, the event celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year so has become an institution in its own right.

• Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

We all know that water is essential for a healthy, fulfilled life. In fact, going without water for as little as three days can be fatal.

So it’s strange to think that such an obvious life-giving resource could ever have superstitions attached to it. But it did.

Many years ago in Wales, it was believed that splashing water around when washing clothes would cause a wife to be cursed with a drunken husband. (Sounds like an excuse on the husband’s part to us!)

An English superstition hinged on the belief that water would protect your house from night-time nasties like ghouls and demons. If you threw water out of your home during the night, so said the old wives’ tale, you weakened this protective force and left yourself open to a run of bad luck.

You’d also be in for some less-than-good luck (apparently), if you spilt water when you were carrying it back home from the brook or spring – though it’s unclear if this was founded on the same belief in malevolent spirits.

A Yorkshire tradition involved pouring hot water on the doorstep of a church after a newlywed bride and groom left. This would ‘keep the threshold warm’ for another wedding – the idea being that before the water evaporated, the seeds would be planted for the next village wedding.

There were also many home remedies involving water, which is understandable given its essential role in health and wellbeing.

For example, it was believed that those who suffered from sore hands in winter could solve the problem by going out and grabbing a bowl of the first snow to fall. Letting this melt and then bathing your hands in it would stop the soreness for the entirety of the colder months, or so the suspicion said.

Similarly, water collected from the first rainfall in June was said to cure skin complaints (and, oddly, get rid of freckles).

Off course, we know that these remedies are nonsense now. So don’t try them at home!

Christmas time is typically synonymous with three things, fun, frivolity and over indulgence – especially when it comes to food and alcohol!

Hold your hands up if you forced an extra mince pie, pig-in-blanket or other festive treat down your gullet, ignoring the fact you were already stuffed to the brim like a Christmas turkey? I imagine more than a few hands will be raised, and, hey, who can blame you? Christmas is the season to be jolly and all that!

However now the dust has settled, many people find after a few days (maybe weeks) of indulgence over Christmas, the battle of the bulge begins in the new year – with trousers no longer fitting, dresses having to be squeezed into and generally a few extra pounds appearing everywhere except the place we want it: our bank accounts!

Now while it certainly won’t be a miracle cure to those extra pounds you’ve put on, water can certainly help you combat a little bit of the excess ‘Christmas pudding’.

If you substitute the occasional glass of water in place of your favourite hot beverage you’ll be doing yourself a favour to combat the weight gain. It’s even better if a glass of water replaces a muffin, doughnut or other sweet treat. Of course, we can understand the temptation to indulge in such delights!

Try to avoid too many of these if possible, as they can cause issues with your blood sugar levels and we’ve all felt the come down after having that initial rush – but keeping yourself hydrated will naturally keep your energy levels up too.

Look for healthy snack choices when you have lunch too, such as vegetable options and other more healthy choices, rather than crisps and cakes.

Plenty of fruit and veg is a great way to eat your daily water intake, especially when you’re recovering from the season of indulgences!

New year’s resolutions are often formulated under some grand bravado that you will really go all out to change a habit or way of life in the new year. People pledge to stop smoking, exercise more, stop biting their nails and so on.

All of these are worthy resolutions, but sadly a lot of people soon give up and revert to type soon enough. If this has been you in years’ past, don’t despair, there could be a new year’s resolution that benefits you in more ways than one, and should be a lot more achievable, without quite the level of dedication required – drinking more water.

Yes such a simple resolution could be the key to unlocking the doors you’d previously not had the power to go through.

For example, drinking more water will naturally boost your system in many ways, helping as it does with circulation, getting the blood to spread vital necessities to your organs, including your brain. This is why drinking water has often been linked to a sharpening of the senses.

To further boost your health, drinking water will often mean you substitute out drinking sugary canned drinks and pops. It might also mean you cut down on the number of coffees and teas you drink – which can only be a good thing.

Smokers often find having something to hold on to can fight the urge to have a cigarette. Now, whilst water itself definitely won’t fight the craving, going for a drink of water instead of a cigarette might actually help fight off the pang many people mistakenly believe to be hunger. This is often actually your body telling you to drink more water. Who knows? Without the feeling of hunger, you might not find yourself reaching for the packet of ciggies so quickly.

Drinking water may also give you that extra level of energy to get out the chair and do some exercise. So instead of giving yourself a new year’s resolution you suspect you will soon shy away from, why not start with something small and build your way up to the big stuff later in the year?